What other author are you reading at the moment?

[floragord]

Absolutely Anita, a really delightful read. I got KITCHEN IN THE HILLS - The Hovel Cookbook too which inspired my early efforts when I'd belatedly learned to cook. After reading of the couple's varied ups and downs too felt I actually knew them, and was upset to read a few years ago that Alan had died.

[Farwa]

I'll check them out...they seem interesting!

[Moonraker]

Marjorie Lloyd - Fell Farm Holiday

[sixret]

Sophie Hannah- The Monogram Murders.

[Francis]

An 87th Precinct book written by Ed McBain - ' Murderer's choice'. Excellent dialogue and it is so nice to read a story that is short and so tightly-written. So many authors produce books that are far too long.

[Chrissie777]

Francis, do you know that Ed MBain is also publishing books as Evan Hunter?

http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... 6bih%3D635" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Francis]

Thanks, Chrissie, I must get round to them when I've finished with the 87th Precinct.

[walter raleigh]

Well you've a long way to go Francis if you are only on "Killer's Choice". There are another 50 or so '87th Precinct' novels after that one and they are all uniformly excellent. They are, as you say, tightly written with realistic dialogue and a great cast of recurring characters. The TV series "Hill Street Blues" was rumoured to be heavily based on the '87th Precinct' which McBain was reportedly very unhappy about. He's also written a fine series of novels about a Florida detective called Matthew Hope that are also well worth seeking out.

Chrissie, Evan Hunter is Ed McBain's real name (well technically his real name is Salvatore Albert Lombino, as that was the name he was born under but he legally changed it to Evan Hunter in 1952). He used the 'Ed Mcbain' moniker for his crime fiction, while his more serious work (including the novel "The Blackboard Jungle" and the screenplay for Hitchcock's 'The Birds') was written under his 'real' name.

As you may have guessed I'm something of a fan.

[burlingtonbertram]

Ever read any James Ellroy? I don't normally read thrillers or Americana but I found these gripping, complex and very different from anything that I would normally read. Gritty is a huge understatement. Because he is very heavy on 50's jazz slang, dialogue and police terminology I struggled at first until I tuned into his vernacular. If you haven't read them then I would recommend the LA Quartet: The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, LA Confidential and White Jazz.

If you've only seen the film LA Confidential then believe me, there is no comparison to the book. It is so much more. As Ellroy's own mother was murdered in California, in 1958, it's no wonder he has a very unique voice. I should warn you though, his books aren't for the faint-hearted.

[Chrissie777]

Hello burlingtonbertram, I read "L. A. Confidential" some 16/17 years ago, because I was so thrilled about the movie. Watched it many times since then. The soundtrack is great. I like that music style.
I also watched "The Black Dahlia", but it was too creepy for me, so I never read the book.
But I read a 2nd novel by Ellroy about the murder of his mother. I also have watched 2 or 3 Ellroy documentaries/interviews and found them very gripping.

[Francis]

Only another 50 Ed McBain books to read! Great travelling books but a bit grim to sleep on so I usually read Enid Blyton in bed before sleep intervenes which guarantees me sweet dreams.

[Pippa-Stef]

Fiona and I are re-reading J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series. Currently we're on number six- The Half-Blood Prince. I haven't read it in a long time and had forgotten all those little details Rowling slips in.

[Francis]

Like your new Avatar, Stef!

[Chrissie777]

Only another 50 Ed McBain books to read! Great travelling books but a bit grim to sleep on so I usually read Enid Blyton in bed before sleep intervenes which guarantees me sweet dreams.

Hi Francis, same here . There's nothing better than a Blyton book at bedtime.

[Chrissie777]

Like your new Avatar, Stef!

It's lovely. Beautiful smile!